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Netflix has launched Hollywood Arts, a spinoff of Nickelodeon’s beloved teen series Victorious, more than a decade after the original show ended. Created by Jake Farrow and Samantha Martin, the new 12-episode series brings back Daniella Monet as Trina Vega. Trina returns to the Los Angeles performing arts school where the original show was set, this time as a substitute teacher rather than a student. The show is now streaming on Netflix.
Trina Vega Takes Center Stage
The series picks up with Trina struggling as an actress. She lives in the shadow of her famous sister Tori, played by Victoria Justice in the original series. With no acting work coming in and unwilling to keep accepting help from Tori, Trina takes a teaching position at Hollywood Arts. She is clearly unqualified for the job, yet she finds ways to inspire students through her unconventional and eccentric approach.
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The season opens with the abrupt retirement of Mr. Sikowitz, played again by Eric Lane. Principal Helen, portrayed by Yvette Nicole Brown, steps in and introduces Trina to the class. Trina arrives wearing impractical stilettos and carrying a large Stanley cup. Her entrance sets the tone for everything that follows.
A New Class of Characters
The student ensemble brings a fresh set of personalities to the Hollywood Arts hallways. Qwest, played by Peyton Jackson, is a musician who has told his parents he attends the school on a basketball scholarship. Oscar, played by Martin Kamm, holds the title of the school’s biggest star. His sister Emmy, nicknamed Techie and played by Alyssa Miles, works behind the scenes as a stage manager and runs the school’s social media accounts. Meanwhile, frenemies Jen and Pepper, played by Erika Swayze and Emmy Liu-Wang respectively, spend most of their time competing with each other.
The students are initially eager to get inside information about Tori Vega through her sister. However, they quickly discover that Trina has little real knowledge of the entertainment industry. From there, the season follows a familiar path of crushes, comedic mishaps and lighthearted drama typical of tween-targeted sitcoms.
Familiar Formula, Fresh Appeal
Hollywood Arts does not stray far from the blueprint of its predecessor. The show is over-the-top, deliberately silly and full of exaggerated performances. In many ways, it closely mirrors the style and tone of Victorious. Notably, disgraced creator and producer Dan Schneider has no involvement in this new production.
The series is unlikely to attract viewers looking for sophisticated storytelling. However, Farrow and Martin make a smart creative choice by centering the show on Trina as an adult character. Unlike the rigid or out-of-touch adult figures common in earlier children’s television, Trina is a stylish, upbeat woman in her thirties who still has not figured out her life. That portrayal gives the show an unexpectedly grounded undercurrent. Similarly, student character Emmy begins to question whether her talents belong behind the scenes or in the spotlight, adding a small but meaningful layer to the story.
The cast performs with genuine skill. Delivering physical comedy, acting and spontaneous musical numbers simultaneously demands real talent. Liu-Wang stands out in particular for her exceptional singing voice. As a group, the ensemble works together with strong chemistry and natural timing.
Who Is It For?
Hollywood Arts fills a specific gap in the streaming landscape. It targets preteens who are not yet ready for older young adult series such as Prime Video’s Sterling Point or Netflix’s Crew Girl. The show offers a colorful, idealized version of high school life in the same spirit as the Nickelodeon and Disney Channel hits of the early 2000s.
The series is not innovative, and it does not try to be. Instead, it delivers exactly what its target audience wants. If Generation Alpha shares the same tastes as the Generation Z viewers who grew up with Victorious, Hollywood Arts has a strong chance of winning over a new generation of young fans. At the same time, its portrayal of a young woman navigating an unpredictable adult life offers something rarely seen in children’s television. That combination may prove to be the show’s quiet strength.
